If you have ever wondered why some hair products deliver lasting repair while others only create a temporary illusion of smoothness, the answer often comes down to one thing: hydrolysed proteins.
These are the unsung heroes of modern hair care — and understanding how they work can fundamentally change how you choose products and care for your hair.
What Are Hydrolysed Proteins?
Hydrolysed proteins are large protein molecules that have been broken down into tiny fragments — peptides and amino acids — through a process called hydrolysis. Water or enzymes are used to cleave the molecular bonds, dramatically reducing the size of each protein fragment.
This size reduction is the key to everything that follows. Here is why:
The penetration problem
Your hair shaft has two main layers: the cuticle (outer protective shell) and the cortex (inner structural core where strength, elasticity, and colour live). Damage — from heat, chemicals, UV, and mechanical stress — occurs primarily in the cortex.
Normal, full-size proteins are too large to pass through the cuticle. They sit on the hair surface, providing a temporary coating that washes away. This is what most cheap "protein" products do — they claim protein benefits but deliver only surface-level results.
Hydrolysed proteins, by contrast, have been broken down small enough to bypass the cuticle and reach the cortex. Once inside, they fill the gaps and voids left by damage, bonding with the hair's own keratin structure to restore strength and elasticity from within.
Types of Hydrolysed Proteins in Hair Care
Not all proteins are equal. Different sources provide different amino acid profiles and molecular weights, making them suited to different hair needs:
Rice Protein
One of the most versatile hair care proteins. Rice protein is rich in amino acids that closely match human hair keratin, making it exceptionally biocompatible. It boosts elasticity, shine, and manageability. Present in Evera Shampoos No.2-5 and Masks No.2-5.
Quinoa Protein
One of the few complete plant proteins, containing all essential amino acids. Quinoa proteins strengthen and repair hair fibres by penetrating deep into the shaft. Present in Evera Daily Conditioner No.1.
Oat Protein
Contributes to enhanced moisture retention, providing a hydrated, nourished feel. Oat proteins form a breathable film that helps hair hold onto moisture between washes.
Vegetable Protein Blend
A combination of plant-derived proteins that provides a broad-spectrum amino acid profile. Present in all Evera products including GA Liquid Gloss Treatment Nº0, these blended proteins ensure comprehensive repair across all types of damage.
How Hydrolysed Proteins Actually Repair Hair
The repair process happens in three stages:
Stage 1: Penetration. Hydrolysed protein fragments (peptides and amino acids) pass through gaps and imperfections in the cuticle, reaching the cortex. Smaller fragments penetrate deeper; larger fragments fill cuticle-level damage.
Stage 2: Bonding. Inside the cortex, protein fragments bond with the hair's existing keratin structure through hydrogen bonds and ionic interactions. They fill the voids left by chemical processing, heat damage, and mechanical stress.
Stage 3: Reinforcement. With gaps filled and new bonds formed, the hair shaft regains tensile strength (resistance to breakage), elasticity (ability to stretch and return), and structural integrity (smoother cuticle, better light reflection).
This is fundamentally different from silicone coating, which merely covers damage without repairing it. When silicone washes off, the damage remains. When hydrolysed proteins bond with hair, the repair persists through multiple washes.
Hydrolysed Proteins vs Keratin Treatments
Traditional keratin treatments use animal-derived keratin (often from hooves, horns, or feathers) combined with formaldehyde or formaldehyde-releasing agents to permanently alter hair structure. They deliver dramatic straightening and smoothing results but:
- Often contain toxic formaldehyde or formaldehyde-releasing chemicals
- Are not vegan
- Can cause scalp irritation and respiratory issues during application
- Permanently alter the hair's disulphide bonds
Hydrolysed vegetable proteins offer a gentler, vegan alternative. They repair through molecular bonding rather than chemical restructuring — improving strength and smoothness without any toxic chemicals or permanent structural changes.
The results are less dramatic than a salon keratin treatment but cumulative, safe, and sustainable — building with each use rather than fading over months.
Lamellar Technology: The Delivery System
GA Liquid Gloss Treatment Nº0 takes protein delivery a step further with lamellar technology. This uses thin, layered molecular structures (lamellae) to transport hydrolysed proteins and amino acids directly to damaged areas with precision.
Think of it as the difference between pouring water over a plant (hope some reaches the roots) and delivering water directly to the root zone through drip irrigation. The active ingredients go exactly where they are needed, with minimal waste.
Read our full guide: What Is a Hair Gloss Treatment? →
Signs Your Hair Needs Protein
- Excessive breakage when brushing or styling
- Loss of elasticity — hair stretches and does not bounce back, or snaps immediately
- Limp, lifeless texture despite using conditioner
- Colour fading faster than expected (structural damage lets pigment escape)
- High porosity — hair absorbs water instantly but dries out quickly
- Heat or chemical damage from styling, colouring, or relaxing
The Evera Protein System
Every Evera product contains hydrolysed vegetable proteins as a core ingredient — not as a marketing afterthought. Combined with cold extraction technology that preserves protein structure, and amino acids (the building blocks of keratin) for additional structural support, the entire range works as an integrated protein repair system.
- Shampoos — Deliver proteins during cleansing for daily maintenance repair
- Conditioner — Quinoa protein for post-wash strengthening
- Masks — Rice protein for intensive weekly repair
- GA Liquid Gloss — Lamellar-delivered proteins for targeted structural repair
- Mousse No.10 — Amino acids for styling with structural benefit
All vegan, all silicone-free, all crafted in Italy. Read about our sustainability commitment →
